For Leopards marksman Makwatta, derby is just another KPL fixture

AFC Leopards goal poacher John-Mark Makwata has labeled the Mashemeji derby match scheduled for this Sunday against perennial rivals and defending champions Gor Mahia at MISC Kasarani  as “any other fixture” in the Kenyan Premier League.

The KPL top scorer with five goals under his belt has however admitted that they have no option but to prepare intensely for the tough fixtures ahead with Bandari FC next after the K’Ogalo fixture.

“Nothing different because we will use only one ball on the pitch. The most important thing is to train same same since the fixtures are just like any other .

“All matches are the same and tough and after Gor it is Bandari so I think fixtures are tough but we will just focus and work together as a team to see how things unfold,” he said.

The former Ulinzi Stars marksman who netted 15 goals to be crowned the top scorer in 2016 was recently named the SJAK Player of the Month of September to become the first Leopards player to win the award since it was started in 2014.

Leopards sit  third on the log with 15 points same as Gor Mahia who are in second just a point behind leaders Tusker FC.

Gor Mahia are yet to lose a point this season winning all their five matches while Leopards have immensely improved registering four wins and three draws after a disappointing result at Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega where they lost 1-0 to hosts Kakamega Homeboyz on the opening day .

The two top teams in the country have coincidentally struggled financially since their main sponsors – a betting company- halted their operations in the country in August after a prolonged tax dispute with the government

Leopards players have gone for three months without salaries with the team skipping a number of training sessions ahead of weekend fixtures though results have not been bad since they have gone  on a seven-match unbeaten run.